Skip to main content

Original text


Powered by Google TranslateTranslate
Powered by Google TranslateTranslate
Century Fire Protection (formerly Fire Sprinkler LLC)

Fire Sprinkler LLC, Pat Stella

Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Formed in: 1994
www.centuryfp.com
SHARE THIS SUCCESS STORY
My successes.

Starting with four employees, plus help from Stella’s wife and father-in-law, Fire Sprinkler, LLC received an $80,000 job on its first day in business. At the end of the first year, the company had added staff and surpassed $1.5 million in revenues — twice what Stella had projected.

What inspired you to start your business?

“Scary” is how Pat Stella characterizes being a CEO. He should know. As president of a Nashville mechanical contracting firm, Stella faced all the difficult decisions and challenges that come with being the boss.

Despite being in familiar territory at the helm of a company, Stella wanted sound business advice as he and business partner Wayne Dorr founded Fire Sprinkler, LLC.  Not just anyone would fit the bill. “I needed another CEO’s perspective, he says, “someone familiar with the kinds of issues I was facing, and who could give an information evaluation of my ideas and concerns.”

Fire Sprinkler, LLC is a full-service fire protection design, construction, repair, inspection and project management company.

How SCORE helped.

Stella was familiar with SCORE and contacted Nashville SCORE for help. That call led to his first meeting with Bill Fowler, the retired president of a local engineering company. Even after the business took off, Stella and Fowler met at least once a month to discuss specific problems as well as “big picture” areas. 

“Over the years, we’ve covered just about every topic you can imagine,” Stella says.  “Bill helped put together an accounting audit together, advised me on issues involving the purchase of our building, lease/buy decisions for equipment, and other issues as they have come up.  He also regularly looks over our numbers to make sure we’re staying on track.”

Stella considers Fowler’s advice to have been in valuable to sustaining the growth of his Fire Sprinkler LLC.

What's great about my mentor?

“SCORE is an excellent advantage for any small business. They give you an instant board of directors — people with experience who can help shape and guide your business,” says Stella.

CONNECT
2 International Plaza Ste 500,
}
Nashville, TN 37217
(844) 726-7322

Copyright © 2024 SCORE Association, SCORE.org

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

Chat generously provided by:LiveChat

In partnership with
Jump back to top